- What is One Billion Rising 2023: Rise for Freedom?
- How are the countries that participate/hold rising events selected?
- When is it?
- Why Revolution?
- Why Solidarity?
- Why February?
- Why “One Billion”?
- Why Dance?
- Is One Billion Rising the same thing as V-Day?
- Is One Billion Rising limited to women’s groups and the women’s movement?
- What are the guidelines to produce a One Billion Rising event?
- How should I RISE?
- Where should I RISE?
- How do I get started?
- How does my organization join?
- How do I edit my event page on the website?
- How do I pay for this?
- Is “Break the Chain” the same this year, or will it be different each year?
- Is “Break the Chain” free to use?
- What are Global Coordinators?
- Am I allowed to use the One Billion Rising logo on my advertisements?
- Can I create my own merchandise?
ONE BILLION RISING campaigns over the years
- What were the One Billion Rising campaigns from previous years?
- How/where do I share the plans and results of my event?
- What is the difference between a V-Day benefit event & a One Billion Rising event?
- How do I sign up for a V-Day benefit event?
Q. What is One Billion Rising 2023: Rise for Freedom?
A. ONE BILLION RISING announced the 2023 theme and campaign: RISE For Freedom & to Create the New Culture. The campaign addresses the devastating consequences of the ongoing vicious systems of patriarchy, imperialism, capitalism and racism in the world today and the destructive battle for power fought over women’s bodies and the body of the earth.
Created by a community of 47 One Billion Rising coordinators located across the globe, this year’s campaign will celebrate 10 years of OBR and urge communities worldwide to utilize art and activism, creative resistance events and gatherings, both online and offline, to demand an end to violence against women, girls and the planet and to shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors most often face.
LEARN how change can happen at “The 2023 Campaign” >
Q. How are the countries that participate/hold rising events selected?
A. One Billion Rising is an invitation pure and simple. It is an energy and movement that belongs to everyone. It takes place where local women and men have decided to organize a rising for themselves and their community. The millions of women, men and children who take part every year do so because they have their own agency, and they choose to. They choose it because they feel this model inspires and amplifies energy and creativity for their local struggles, and because it offers global solidarity.
Q. When is One Billion Rising 2023?
A. One Billion Rising will take place on (or around) 14 February. Over the years the timeframe during which Rising events are hosted has expanded to accommodate the growing movement. Most risings are concentrated between early February through 8 March, International Women’s Day.
In Canada, Risings are encouraged to take place around 8 March so as to not conflict with the Women’s Memorial March. For more information about the WMM, please visit their website.
Q. Why Revolution?
A. Each year, a group of global coordinators meet to determine a theme and a direction for the upcoming year based on input from all over the world.
This year we are continuing with the broader theme of Revolution because “Revolution” can be expressed in the “for who” and “for what”. It is broad enough to include all issues, and also particular enough to be specific about issues communities want to highlight and raise. It does not diffuse focus, rather – it enhances it.
It is just the beginning and the “Revolution” theme helps sustain the focus of what One Billion Rising is – a call for CHANGE. Structural, systemic, long-term change.
And we have not changed the system yet, therefore we must continue with the “Revolution” theme, deepen what it can mean, and escalate actions around it. Major changes are still needed, particularly in ways of thinking and consciousness about violence against women issues. “Revolution” is the most major thing we need, and it allows creative and artistic expressions, multi-sectoral involvement, and more importantly – provides a unique space to engage people from all walks of life. It allows the use of imagination, art and political actions – and allows everyone the freedom to localise all their campaigns. And above all ‘ “Revolution” can bring everyone from the personal to the political – from the “I” to the “We”. IT HARNESSES COLLECTIVE ENERGY BECAUSE IT IS HOPEFUL AND ENVISIONS POSSIBILITIES AND A FUTURE.
Q. Why Solidarity?
A. Solidarity is also a theme that coordinators and organizers around the world wanted to maintain and focus on:
- Solidarity gives renewed energy for OBR activists and movements in the face of a worsening climate for women.
- Solidarity gives hope, and hope is hard to kill or suppress.
- Solidarity helps link local issues, with national and international struggles of women. Which in turn, helps strengthen and sustain attention from media and governments for local activists and women’s groups and their advocacy work.
- Solidarity connects activists locally, as well globally – to share on VAW issues, to foster alliances and learning, and to build stronger international solidarity movements. These connections are crucial in giving activists around the world a sense of not working and advocating in isolation, particularly in areas where they face hostile government backlash. And a stronger voice and more sharpened determined will to continue fighting against the global capitalist, imperialist, neo-liberal system that keeps violence in place.
- Solidarity exposes local issues to the world, which would otherwise not have been visible or seen. This helps give awareness and understanding on both local VAW issues and issues where they interconnect globally
- Solidarity celebrates the strength, power and victories of women’s movements around the globe – mobilizing more and more women and their allies in solidarity with people’s struggles worldwide
Q. Why 14 February?
A. V-Day was born on 14 February 1998. For the past 18 years, tens of thousands of V-Day events have taken place all over the world, raising funds and awareness for local groups and organizations working to end violence against women and girls. At V-Day we have the outrageous idea that we can end violence against women, and though we have seen many victories over the years, the violence is still prevalent and impunity still reigns. One Billion Rising Revolution is a necessary escalation of our global efforts to end the violence.
Q. Why “One Billion”?
A. One in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.
That is ONE BILLION WOMEN. Over the past four years, one billion women and men shook the earth through dance and a call for justice and an end to violence against women and girls. This year, on or around 14 February, we are calling on women and men everywhere to harness their power and imagination to RISE IN SOLIDARITY!
Q. Why dance?
A. Many women across the world see dance as liberating and empowering. Women who experienced gender violence often hate their bodies and live outside them. The act of public dance can be part of a process of reclaiming and reentering their bodies. It can be a way of discarding shame and fear and coming back into their sexuality and power. It also provides a disruptive, joyful and artistic way of resistance. It allows us to go further, to include everyone, to tap into a revolutionary and poetic energy which is inviting us to take the lid off the patriarchal container releasing more of our wisdom, our self love, our sexuality, our compassion and fierceness. Dancing is defiance.
People from all across the globe – women, men, youth – from migrants, students, farmers, domestic workers, indigenous women, women workers, teachers, artists, activists, local government officials, and others – have danced in Risings around the world as part of One Billion Rising.
Fueled by dance – One Billion Rising has had remarkable impact. In Guatemala, the risings produced the pressure that finally ensured any pregnancy under 16 was classed as a rape. In Hong Kong, OBR pressure helped ensure a successful conviction of a woman for torturing her female domestic worker. In Bosnia, the risings helped produce the pressure that led to a major investigation into rapes during wartime.
Q: Is One Billion Rising the same thing as V-Day?
A. No. One Billion Rising is a campaign that grew out of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls, and has become an autonomous movement of self-determined activists and local communities on the ground. It is an energy and a catalyst that uses art and activism to raise awareness, to mobilise, to engage, to educate, to incite, to awaken and to inspire.
Q: Is One Billion Rising limited to women’s groups and the women’s movement?
A. No, definitely not. As we saw in the past three years of the Risings – many groups and movements joined in the call and brought the issues they have been advocating for in, highlighting the intersecting issues that perpetuate and sustain violence. The LGBTQI movement in countries all over the world joined the call, as did activists from Environmental, Peace movements and campaigns, Developmental Justice activists on issues of land, trade etc, the restorative justice movement, among many others.
We have formed new coalitions between existing groups and individuals not only within the women’s movement but also between people’s movements covering diverse sectors including:
Workers Rising >
Men Rising >
Youth Rising >
Rise for Mother Earth >
#SayHerName >
Q. What are the guidelines to produce a One Billion Rising event?
A. Make sure you and everyone involved are signed up at onebillionrising.org. Organize a gathering in your community on or around 14 February. Make it as large and disruptive as you can to highlight the urgency of our demand. Beyond that, the possibilities are endless. There are not set rules. Envision revolution and go from there!
Q. How should I RISE?
A. One Billion Rising Revolution is a call to survivors and their allies to break the silence and rise in any way you feel best represents the releasing of your story and the call for your revolution. You can rise politically, outrageously, artistically – through dance, art, marches, ritual, song, spoken word, testimonies, and other ways that best express your outrage, your need, your desire, and your joy. Rise In Solidarity in YOUR way.
Q. Where should I RISE?
A. One Billion Rising Revolution is a call to rise for your revolution. This can be anywhere from court houses to your place of employment; police stations to your own home; places of worship to school administration buildings, in theaters and artistic performance spaces, in any public gathering space. Regardless of the location, it is vitally important that you gather safely so please research the specific rules, laws, and potential permits needed for a public gathering in the location of your choice.
Q. How do I get started?
A. Sign up at our Sign Up page, register your event at Plan Your Event and then gather your team. Reach out to other organizations and strategize how you will all mobilize your networks. Work with your team to highlight and foreground the voices and demands of grassroots and marginalised women in your community; let them take the lead. Create and envision new, brave and radical artistic initiatives to help you create a memorable event. Remain INCLUSIVE, INTERSECTIONAL and COMPREHENSIVE.
Q. How does my organization join?
A. If you are joining the campaign as an organization and want to host a RISING, please email Monique Wilson, and include your organization’s name and contact details.
Q. How do I edit my event?
A. If you already have an event listed but need to change information, go to the events page and click on “manage your events.” You will need to sign in using the email address and password you created when initially listing your event. You will have the ability to edit your event title, description, location, date and time. You will not be able to edit your account/profile name.
Q. How do I pay for this?
A. One Billion Rising Revolution events don’t have to be expensive. We recognize that funds are sometimes needed for venue hire, publicity, materials, etc. If you need to raise money, look for local resources whenever possible. Appeal to local businesses to donate their time and services to the cause. Work cooperatively, create strategies using social networks or crowd sourcing to co-finance. Work with collective ideas or hold fundraising events leading up to your Revolution.
Q. Is “Break the Chain” the same this year, or will it be different each year?
A. “Break The Chain” is still the anthem for One Billion Rising events this year. Throughout the first three years of One Billion Rising, activists have creatively used the “Break The Chain” song and choreography in their communities. Since it was released in late 2012, the song has been translated into over 15 languages making the message local and accessible.
This year, we are inviting activists to Revolutionize the “Break the Chain” choreograph, and create their own revolutionary dances. Communities around the world have already adapted, localised and completely re-envisioned the choreography, in many places integrating the dance into their cultures so that it remains current and relevant. These dances (as well as the original choreography) have been shared throughout the campaign, they are unique and inspiring.
Organizers, risers, and artists are encouraged to continue to localize their dance expressions however they want, to envision and create wild, radical dance moves that free and liberate the body, that can move people into defiance, joy, courage, empowerment and community. Included any version of the choreography your community chooses. Or multiple versions, there’s no limit to how many ways you can DANCE!* This year we are also encouraging activists to learn the OBR Tilburg original dance!
*As in years before, using choreography is just suggestion, NOT a requirement or a mandate.
VIEW examples of communities who revolutionized their dance >
Q. Is “Break The Chain” free to use?
A. “Break The Chain” is free to use from V-Day and One Billion Rising – but you will have to check local laws on licensing for your specific country to see if that applies.
Q. What are Global Coordinators?
A. ONE BILLION RISING Coordinators are activists around the world who are engaging their communities, their cities, their countries, and their regions to be a part of One Billion Rising Revolution. As long-time activists and V-Day organizers working to end violence against women and girls, they have the skills, the networks and the ability to help guide local organizations, individuals, lawyers, unions, alliances, and networks in their efforts to be part of the campaign. Most coordinated efforts in their countries and regions for One Billion Rising. These Coordinators, together with their network groups, took the lead in their own countries and communities on how to envision and implement the campaign and did an outstanding job of highlighting their local contexts within the campaign. Please be in touch with them to help you strategize, create and promote your One Billion Rising Revolution campaigns.
LEARN more & MEET the Global Coordinators >
Q. Am I allowed to use the One Billion Rising logos on my advertisements and on social media?
A. YES, though it is not mandatory please consider using the One Billion Rising logo on all of your materials. You are able to add your own city/ country to the logo. You are welcome to use the logo for social media pages you create.
Q. Can I create my own merchandise?
A. YES! Merchandise is available in most areas through our One Billion Rising Revolution Online Spreadshirt Store, however in many cases it will be cheaper for you to print merchandise locally.
DOWNLOAD print quality logos here >
ONE BILLION RISING campaigns over the years
Q. What were the One Billion Rising campaigns from previous years?
A. One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender based violence) in human history. The campaign, which launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS.
Read about past campaigns here
Q. How/where do I share the plans and results of my event?
A. You can share them on the global site: onebillionrising.org – or if your country, city or community has One Billion Rising Revolution social media pages – you can share it there!
You can share them on the global site: onebillionrising.org – or if your country, city or community has One Billion Rising Revolution social media pages – you can share it there! Also, don’t forget to share your events, photos, videos, posters, statements or memes using the official hashtags for this year’s rising: #riseinsolidarity & #1billionrising.
You can also tag us or post to our accounts:
Facebook: /vday
Twitter: @vday
Instagram: @vdayorg & @one_billion_rising
Soundcloud: /vday
Q. What is the difference between a V-Day benefit event and a One Billion Rising event?
A. An official V-Day event is a benefit production. These events take place annually during the month of February. A One Billion Rising event is global action occurring on (or around) 14 February each year. The V-Day events will promote One Billion Rising, and we encourage One Billion Rising activists to sign up to host a V-Day event.
Q. How do I sign up for a V-Day benefit event?
A. You can apply to organize a V-Day benefit event at the V-Spot. Once a member of the V-Team contacts you with the go ahead, you will gain access to the scripts and many other organizer materials to help you bring a V-Day benefit event to your school or community.
